Author: EOLIS Staff

Last week, Wendeen reconnected with President Barack Obama, outside Washington (where they first met in 2008), at a stirring event held at the Streiker Center/Temple Emanu-el. After sampling chef Daniel Boulud’s famous short ribs, the President took pictures at a VIP reception before the Event. He would soon settle in for a “conversation” with Rabbi Joshua Davidson in the main sanctuary of the temple.

In earshot of Wendeen’s friends, nearby, as she approached to greet the President, he called out to her , “Hi Wendy.” She joined him–responding with this smile, caught by the camera! The only people who call her “Wendy” are family (Wendy was her nickname until she turned 6!), singer Wayne Newton, a client and longtime friend who resides in a world of his own, and the good president. Wendeen couldn’t bring herself to correct thepresident!

There was good reason that President Obama resonated deeply with his audience. He offered simple and sage advice to attendees on how to thrive in our complicated world. He said, “I tell my girls, “Be kind and be useful.” Wendeen is grateul for his perspective.

Wendeen and Al Gore meet up again in a different environment, before his presentation at New York’s most renowned and extraordinarily beautiful synagogue, Temple Emanuel. Last time around, Wendeen met with the former Vice President, shortly after he was defeated in the 2000 presidential campaign, while engaged in an attorney vetting assignment for the Florida recount.

Mr. Gore’s commitment to the environment over the ensuing years has been a major focal point not only for him following public service, but for a world that cannot escape the problems of pollution. On this evening Wendeen was at the presentation, eager to hear from someone who is certain that global warming is neither a myth nor a Chinese hoax, but rather an urgent issue for our coming grandchildren.

The former Vice President did not disappoint in his passion and determination, notwithstanding a drastic change in the political picture under a new president. And he did not get sidetracked either; there were no questions and no answers from Mr. Gore on President Donald J. Trump’s performance, shortly after the new president’s executive order-based- travel ban raised the ire of the Courts.

Wendeen and Bill take a photo after chatting amiably about their acquaintanceship which dates back to his first stint as NYC Police Commissioner under Mayor Rudy Giuiani. Their first encounter came when each was advising the Mayor during a moment of potential racial unrest in New York. On his watch, for two Mayors 20 years apart, Commissioner Bratton did New York City proud. He left public service in 2016–shortly after Wendeen’s photographed visit in his conference room, that took place during a tour of the police operations at Police Plaza with the Women’s Forum of New York. .

In a meeting, by invitation of the Association for a Better New York ABNY), the Mayor schooled business and civic leaders and a sprinkling of politicos in the crowd, on his determined vision for Equity and Excellence in NYC public schools—for all children. But, he was pointedly mum about public schools that are currently accessible only to specially “gifted children. “

As a graduate of one of those schools, and having been motivated to do the necessary to qualify for admission, I was beginning to lament the prospect of a school system void of special opportunities for those who earn them. I questioned the Mayor as noted in the corrected City Hall transcript:*

Wendeen’s Question: Mr. Mayor thank you very much for the report. It’s exciting, I think for everybody in the room to know the emphasis that is placed on “Equity and Excellence for All.” I am interested in knowing the extent to which we’re going to be rolling out this concept in all of those schools – how will that affect your view of the special schools we currently have in New York, and will we need more of them? Will we need to expand them or will we have lesser need for those few schools that have typically attracted people who are highly talented, as proven through the testing process primarily?

The Mayor’s Answer in pertinent part: “A fantastic question, (Wendeen). Can I give you a gold star for the question? If we were in the classroom, I’d be giving you a gold star right now. This is the kind of thing I think we need to talk a lot about – much more about in this city. Specialized schools are extraordinary. They have turned out a generation of leaders in all fields. You know, we just – an easy example in the national dynamics in just the last few years – Eric Holder one of the most prominent leaders of the Obama administrations, David Axelrod who helped bring you the Obama administration both from Stuyvesant. So, pretty amazing people, congratulations to Stuyvesant. I would make a speech about Brooklyn Tech – great graduates like Len Riggeo and Dante de Blasio.

So they play a very, very crucial role, and they will certainly continue to. And I think there’s absolutely an open door – there’s certainly the potential of more specialized schools, but even more clearly there’s the potential to take models that work and expand them out. For example, where my daughter went – Beacon High School – tremendously successful, was used to create another great high school. That model and that approach was literally transported to another site on the Upper West Side and the new Frank McCord high school has started. So you can take a model and kind of replicate it in many ways, so yes we will continue to take great models and build them out and add new versions of them.

But at the same time – because your question is wonderfully precise about is there a contradiction with this theme – no, I don’t believe there is. The goal is to say, you can take any school and give it the kinds of things it never had, and the world will start to change. That is not a lack of acknowledgement of other realities as to the previous question.”

On the way out the door of the meeting, the Chairman of ABNY, Bill Rudin caught my eye to say, “Great question.” New Yorkers need to keep their foot on the pedal to develop Equity and Excellence without sacrificing the incentive of special schools for parents who succeed in teaching their children the merits and the benefits of accountability, at a young age.

Wendeen’s visits with Israel’s Consul General, Ido Aharoni at his New York residence. It was an intimate gathering of esteemed women leaders, active in the Women’s Forum of New York and the International Women’s Forum, in advance of this year’s cornerstone conference in Tel Aviv.

Ambassador Aharoni and Wendeen chatted about their mutual community of interest and the solid ties between Israel and New York. Mr. Ahoroni has been in the forefront of Israeli diplomatic initiatives since 1991 with a strong emphasis in New York. Wendeen has been a steadfast chammpion for israel in government (going back to her attendance, as a US public official at the funeral of Yitzahk Rabinin) as well as in her business, with affiliated consultants in Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Jerusalem.

Eolis International Group has recruited mor than 50 Israeli law studentss for our summer internship programs and looks forward to finding more of the best and the brightest during this year’s visit to the Promised Land.

The New Year had gotten off to a good start; an eclectic group of business and public service projects was on the boards. And then came an offer Wendeen could not refuse; an invitation to participate in a live poker game to be televised on CBS Sports.

The player roster was as eclectic as any she had ever seen; lawyers, poker pros, a movie reviewer, and James Woods, the MIT educated actor, were on the list.

Some 15 Years ago Wendeen and Jimmy struck up an acquaintanceship at a poker tournament in California, each intrigued by the other’s connection to NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Jimmy had played Rudy in the movie of the same name. Wendeen had played a role in Giuliani’s run for Mayor and had served as a special advisor to him on City Hall Affairs.

The years flew by with occasional crossing of paths, a dinner here a poker date there. But in the upcoming Poker Night In America show they sit next to each other for most of the day–hemming and hawing about their respective holdings and mugging for the camera as reacquainted friends.

It is a tradition! Sharon and Wendeen celebrate the holiday season, sharing their love for Manhattan; restaurants, theater, museums, and, the must see Alvin Ailey dance company. The joy of Ailey’s longtime signature piece, Revelations, never runs out of joy.

Last weekend Ailey paired Revelations with the beautiful new Odetta, a tribute to the legendary folk singer, at the Saturday matinee–a tip Sharon bestowed on Wendeen. And Wendeen returned the favor, tipping off Sharon, an avid civil rights activist to the impassioned, riveting choreography that explodes before your eyes in the dance company’s timely offering of “Uprising.”

The two sisters continue their family time celebration over the Chanukah and Christmas holidays, taking in great food for thought.

Like all who had the good fortune to cross paths with Jay Oliva throughout his illustrious career as a pre-eminent educator, and quintessential steward of NYU, I mourned his passing April 17th, very personally.

It was Jay who insisted that I trot into my history class with infants in tow, rather than cut his class at the lofty NYU University Heights campus. .

Jay was a cheering fan and forceful motivator for kids like me, who had no parents presiding over their educations. And Jay was a strong voice who taught me the value of the NYU credo–perstare y prestare. He was an unwavering supporter of my decision to found a business with $1,800 in savings and a freshly minted Bachelor’s Degree as capital. His lessons never faded though our contact was scarce during the next two decades.

Some 25 years later, while president of the university, Jay tracked me down and invited me to lunch. He told me many important things about the ever-blossoming university in which I could take pride. And he said he was proud of my business success and would be even prouder, if I would choose to give back to the University. And so I have, but the size of the debt to Jay for his sage advice can never be repaid.

From the beginning to the end of this uniquely interesting acquaintanceship, Jay Oliva lit a fire to raise my own standards.

Wendeen reconnects with Mary Jo White, SEC Chair, at WFNY breakfast, asking how she balances expansion of corporate accountability with tradition of allowing corporations to agree to high financial penalties while refusing to admit to wrongdoing.

Breakfast was lively, Mary Jo kept us on our toes; discussing her responsibilities and authority with a dollop of humor and heaping respect for communication that is down to earth. I recalled our lunch date as she was building her portfolio while at Debevoise (including a client we recommended). WFNY can only hope to see Mary Jo return to the fold of the Forum at such time as she may decide to return to the private sector.